Do you believe that someone can think themselves into financial failure? I do! Have you ever been around someone who was always talking about how broke they are? You know the, “negative Nellies”, or that obnoxious co-worker who’s always telling you how they’re living paycheck to paycheck and can’t get ahead? Do you ever wonder if that negativity is contributing to their bad financial situation? Here are a few examples of what I mean:
- Dwellers- You went bankrupt 5 years ago and you’re still dwelling/focused on being broke.
- Negative Self-talkers- “I’m broke”, “I’m poor”, “We’ll never get out of debt”, “we’ll always be lower class”
- Present Thinkers- Have you heard that saying “dress for the job you want, not the job you have?” Focusers are fixated on where their finances are now, cannot see or think about their financial future.
- “Brokeass” Competitors- “You think that’s bad? I have $125k in student loan debt”. or “At least you have $50 until next paycheck, I have $20”.
- “No sense-ers”- “There’s no sense is saving for retirement because I’ll never be able to save enough”. “There’s no sense in saving for college because I’ll probably never go back”
Have you met people who think themselves into financial failure? How do you keep yourself from having negative thoughts about your financial situation?
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Glen @ Monster Piggy Bank
January 14, 2013 at 7:48 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Your mindset has a lot to do with your overall ability to achieve success. I used to be a negative nelly, now I try and be as positive as possible.
KK
January 14, 2013 at 10:57 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Positivity it contagious, unfortunately so is negativity.
Marie at FamilyMoneyValues
January 14, 2013 at 9:40 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment
I have a close relative that has made it to financial failure and he had every chance in the world. I believe that your focus determines your success. If you focus on achieving wealth, you will eventually get there.
KK
January 14, 2013 at 10:57 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
I agree Marie. That’s why I’m continuing to think positive and forge ahead.
Debt Roundup
January 14, 2013 at 11:47 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment
I used to think negatively about our finances, but then decided to get my head out of the gloom. If I have a bad month financially, I say it could have been worse. It helps me to keep my head up and keep my credit card in my wallet.
KK
January 14, 2013 at 10:58 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
It’s really easy to get caught up in negativity. “keep my head up and my credit card in my wallet” I like that!
Mackenzie
January 14, 2013 at 12:34 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
The competitors are the worst, honestly. One-upping about debt doesn’t make sense, and yet we all know someone that does it!
KK
January 14, 2013 at 10:59 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Right? It makes no sense. I know too many people who do it.
John S @ Frugal Rules
January 14, 2013 at 1:47 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
I think it all has to do with mindset. Sure, things might suck…but come to grips with it and move on.
KK
January 14, 2013 at 11:00 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Yup, if you dwell on things and continue to be negative you’ll continue to reap negativity in your finances and in your life. Everyone has bad times, just have to push through them.
Miss T @ Prairie Eco-Thrifter
January 14, 2013 at 3:42 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Outlook and perspective drive so much of the actions we do. If we are optimistic we often get good results because we push ourselves. I have been around negative people and they just bring me down, often hindering my progress or desire to keep going.
KK
January 14, 2013 at 11:01 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Good points. I try to avoid negative people. It’s so easy to get sucked into their despair and defeat.
Tackling Our Debt
January 14, 2013 at 6:16 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
I’ve always read that “what you focus on expands” and I believe that is the case for money too, whether it is more debt or more income. You choose want your want out of life and if you choose to focus on the negative you will get more of it, I think.
KK
January 14, 2013 at 11:02 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
That’s so true. If you focus on negative things and debt, your debt will grow. If you focus on saving money and moving forward your savings will grow.
Greg@ClubThrifty
January 15, 2013 at 7:05 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Positive (or negative) thinking can truly have an impact on your results no matter what you are doing. Whatever you tend to focus on is usually what your results will be. It is like a self-fulfilling prophecy. That is why so many pro athletes do visualization exercises.
Jamie Dickinson @ YourSavingAngels
January 15, 2013 at 8:27 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Absolutely! It’s your mind set is reflected in your body language, even if it is unconscious, and that has effects on how others view you. You can think yourself out of things, I did it with two jobs because of my low confidence.
KK
January 15, 2013 at 10:45 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
So true, your confidence is easy for other people to read. If you don’t believe it you, other people won’t either.
AverageJoe
January 15, 2013 at 9:49 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment
I try to change my state when I’m thinking negative thoughts….go for a run. Listen to a podcast about things I can do. I try to focus on moving forward and building some momentum. That keeps the bad stuff at bay….most of the time.
I love the term broke-ass competitor. I know some of those people and I think, “Really? You’re competing over that????”
KK
January 15, 2013 at 10:47 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
I got into podcasts a couple years back. There are a few that are really motivating. Whenever I start thinking negative they always bring me back to a good place.
If healthy competition is a good thing, unhealthy competition is terrible.
DC @ Young Adult Money
January 15, 2013 at 1:05 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Hmmm some may say I’m a “brokeass competitor,” but mainly it’s just difficult to hear people complain about student debt when they have 1/3 or 1/10 what I have. I’m not being negative most of the time, I just wish people would stop complaining! I don’t complain about my debt and I’m not trying to “trump” anyone or get pity, I usually just want people to stop complaining about a relatively small amount of debt : )
KK
January 15, 2013 at 10:48 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
I can totally imagine how it could get frustrating to hear other people complain about there debt if yours is much greater. It’s like really? Shut up, it’s not that bad. But to that person it might feel unbearable. Everything is relative I suppose.
Cassi
January 15, 2013 at 10:41 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
I’m proud to say that I don’t believe I’ve been any of those people (although I will say that I am broke, but that is when there is maybe $10 in my spending account because I pushed my budget a little far!)
I think the only one I could be thought of as is the “present thinker,” but I have recently taken many actions that would prove me otherwise, so hooray for healthy financial thoughts!
KK
January 15, 2013 at 10:49 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
I truly believe that positive thinking is half of the battle (maybe more). Personal finance is so “personal” so it’s easy to get caught up in negative thinking. Good for you for avoiding the negativity.
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